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The Outstanding Faculty Research Award

The Outstanding Faculty Research Award is presented to a member of the faculty who demonstrates the highest standards of excellence in their research, scholarship, and contributions to their field. The scholar receives an honorarium and a certificate attesting to this award at a formal dinner in the spring and is presented to the university at spring commencement.  Under a newly instituted policy, a nomination may remain active for a total of three years.  Updated vita and references may be provided by the nominee each year of consideration.

Eligibility for the Award

Recipients of the award will be individuals who have established a national and international scholarly reputation in their field as evidenced by their publications in highly cited journals, invited presentations at national and international symposia, leadership in research consortia and centers, invited academic colloquium presentations, and similar scholarly activities that indicate stature in their field.

  • All full-time faculty members in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Nursing, Villanova School of Business and the School of Law who hold the rank of Tenured Full Professor are eligible for the award.
  • Faculty with at least ten years of service to Villanova at the time of nomination are eligible.
  • The award is presented based on the scholarly activity of the faculty member while on the faculty of Villanova University.  Scholarly work completed when the nominee was not on the Villanova faculty is not formally considered.
  • No individual may receive the award more than once.

Letter of Nomination

  • A formal letter of nomination may be submitted by an individual or a group of full-time Villanova faculty members.
  • The letter should be submitted as a Word document addressed to Dr. Amanda M. Grannas, Vice Provost for Research and Chief Research Officer, and submitted via email by 5 p.m. EST annually on the first Friday in November. 
  • The letter of nomination should include a narrative presenting a description of the nominee’s qualifications for consideration, the significance of his or her scholarship, and an explanation of its originality and impact in its field.
  • All nominees will be contacted and asked to submit supporting materials such as a current Vita and sample publications.

Selection Committee

The recipient is selected by a committee consisting of the Vice Provost for Research, previous award recipients, and additional faculty representatives, including members of Faculty Congress.

Previous Award Recipients

2014
Dr. Sally Scholz

2015
Dr. Giorgi Japaridze

2016
Dr. Robert Traver

2017
Dr. Paul L. Danove

2018
Dr. Marc Gallicchio
Dr. Michael S. Pagano

2019
Dr. Jonathan Doh

2020
Dr. Robert H. Caverly

2021
Dr. Samantha Chapman
Dr. Christopher Kilby

2022
Dr. Lauren Shohet 

2023
Dr. Elizabeth Dowdell

2024
Dr. Bridget Wadzuk
Dr. Jeremy Kees

 

 

 

 

1981
Dr. José R. de la Vega
Dr. Ingeborg L. Ward

1982
Dr. John D. Caputo
Dr. Roman Maksymowych

1983
Dr. Edward F. Guinan
Dr. Robert L. Grob

1984
Dr. George T. Radan
Dr. Bernard F. Reilly

1986
Dr. Alain J. Phares

1987
Dr. Wayne G. Bremser
Dr. Walter E. Conn

1988
Dr. Gerald M. Long
Dr. Rodger Van Allen

1989
Dr. Edward M. Sion
Dr. Philip J. Stephens

1990
Dr. Lucy McDiarmid
Dr. Charles E. Zech

1991
Dr. Thomas W. Busch
Dr. Rachel T. Hare-Mustin

1992
Dr. Matthew J. Liberatore
Dr. Walter W. Zajac, Jr.

1993
Dr. Bernard J. Gallagher III

1994
Dr. George P. McCook

1995
Dr. Vincent B. Sherry
Dr. R. Kelman Wieder

1996
Dr. Andrew Woldar

1997
Dr. Moeness Amin

1998
Dr. Jeffrey W. Hahn

1999
Dr. Richard N. Juliani

2000
Dr. Michael Brown

2002
Dr. Aaron M. Bauer

2003
Dr. John A. Pearch II

2004
Dr. Ann Mosely Lesch

2005
Dr. Mary E. Desmond

2006
Dr. Suzanne Smeltzer

2007
Dr. Ahmad Hoorfar

2008
Dr. Robert DeFina

2009
Dr. Charles R. Taylor

2010
Dr. Charles L. Folk

2011
Dr. Robert T. Jantzen

2012
Dr. Ronald Paul Hill

2013
Dr. C. Nataraj